Steam gang-plow



2 SheetsSheet 1.

Patented Apr. 21,

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STEAM GANG PLOW.

(No Model.)

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N. PETERS. Phntohlhn (No Model.) 2 Sh'eetsShet 2. E. PENNEY.

STEAM GANG PLOW.

No. 316,393. Patented Apr: 21, 1885.

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i ATENT STEAM GANG-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,393, dated April 21, 188:3.

Application filed October 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR PENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaynesborough, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Gang- Plows; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that style of steamplows in which an obliquely-arranged gang of plows is so organized that it is specially adapted to be drawn by a detachable traction-englne.

My invention consists of certain combinations of mechanical devices, which combinadetailed description, aided by the annexed drawings. The traction engine is omitted from the drawings, it being understood that any suitable known traction-engine may be used for drawing the gang-plow.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved gang-plow, some parts, which are merely duplicates of other parts, being omitted for the sake of clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation intended to represent more especially the trussed hitching-beam detached from other parts. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate parts of the gang-plow detached from the other parts thereof. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification of the mode of applying the draft-rods.

The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.

The frame of the gang-plow consists, principally, of the rear diagonal hitching-beam, A, and the side beams, A and A which convergefrom the hitching-beam toward and are united at the front end by the clevis-casting B. The side beams project beyond the diagonal hitching-beam to support a foot-board, A in rear of the hitching-beam, and the whole frame is strengthened by cross-beams a a a and a longitudinal center beam, a This triangular frame is supported upon three casterwheels, 00 O Thewheel O is attaehed'to the side beam A the wheel 0 to the side beam A at a point transversely opposite the wheel 0, and the wheel 0 is placed at about the junction of the side beam A and the hitchingbeam A, all as clearly shown in Fig. 1. These caster-wheels thus disposed can follow the inequalities of the surface of the ground without straining the frame. The hitching-beam is strengthened by trussing, as best shown in Fig. 3, and the lower chord of the truss is made available for the attachment of the plows. In order that the lowerchord, D, of the truss may not interfere with caster-wheel 0, but still afford the means for the attachment of the plow 1, (the one that follows in about the tread of this caster-wheel,) the end of this chord adjacent to said caster-wheel projects at an angle from the main portion of the chord outward under the cross-beam a, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, this angular end being marked D in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The beams of the plows are connected with the lower chord of the trussed hitchingbeam by the following devices: The fiat end of the plow-beam is inserted between the parallel vertical plates 6 of a frame-like coupling-link, E, which is provided at the end attached to the plow-beam with a pair of wheels, E E, journaled to vertical flanges e c on the coupling-link, and designed to run on the ground. Both the plates 6 and the'flanges e are provided with vertical series of pin-holes, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that this end of the coupling-link may be vertically-adj usted with reference to the wheels E,which I term gagewheels, and the end of the plow-beam may also be adjusted vertically on the link, all for the purpose of regulating the pitch ofthe plow and gaging the depth of thefurrow. The forward end of the coupling-link is forked, having horizontally-spread arms by which the link is pivotally connected by a cross-pin, 6 to the head 0 of an upwardly-projecting lever, E By this lever the coupling-link may be rocked on its longitudinal axis to can't the beam in one direction or the other, the effect of which will be to throw the plow more or less into land. The canting or land regulating lever E is locked to a fixed arc, cfl after adjustment. The head e of the levers E of each of the coupling-links of plows 2, 3, and 4 is circular, and is pivoted to acircularplate on the rear end of a bracket, F, the forward construct the lower chord of the truss of a bar of angle-iron, d, and a bar of flat iron, (1', arranged below the bar (1 at a distance to permit the passage of the flat end of the tie-rod. The struts of the truss are so arranged that they pass through the several tie-rods G. For plow 1 the bracket F is dispensed with, and the head 6 of the canting-lever E is pivoted on a round end of the tie-rod G, as shown in detail in Fig. 6, in order that plow 1 may run in the same oblique rank with the other plows, notwithstanding the bend in that portion of the lower chord of the truss where it is attached.

Instead of connecting the coupling link with abracket fixed to the lower chord of the trussed hitching-beam, its forked forward end may be pivoted to a cross-head on the rear end of rod Gr, and the latter may become a draft-rod by adopting the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, where the flattened part of the rod G is adapted to slide in a socket, D, secured to the angle-iron bar (Z of the lower chord of the truss hitching-beam.

It will be observed that the means described for connecting the plows with the lower chord of the hitching-beam permit the plows to move freely up and down to follow the surface inequalities, but hold them steady in lateral directions. The use of a trussed hitching-beam with the lower chord of which the plow-beams are connected enables me to use comparative ly large caster-wheels.

The following hoisting arrangement is provided for lifting and lowering the plows. I and K refer to two winding drums or shafts mounted in suitable bearings crosswise of the main frame. A spur-wheel, I, is fixed on shaft I, and a spur-wheel, K, on shaft K. These spur-wheels are out of line, and are adapted to be driven either conjointly or separately by the pinion L 011 the counter-shaft L. Shaft L is movable endwise in its bearings, so that its pinions may be caused to engage either, neither, or both of the spur-wheels I and K, and is held in either of its four positions by a latch, L adapted to drop into one or another of four circular grooves, Z, out in the shaft.- Two ropes or chains, m m, are secured to winding-shaft I, extending up over pulleys on top of two crane-posts, M M, which are erected on the diagonal hitching-beam A and suitably braced. The ropes m m carry a lifting'bar, ll to which the rear ends of the plows are connected each by a separate rope or chain, 112?. The forward end of each plow is connected by a rope or chain, a, (secured in thls instance to an eye on coupling-link E,)

to the winding-shaft N, guide-pulleys n being placed on foot-board A for some of these ropes or, in order that all may equally lift or lower the front ends of the plows when wound on or unwound from the shaft K. In drawing the plowshare out of and elevating the plow bodily above the ground, it is necessary to lift the rear end of the plow through a greater space than the front end.

In order that both plow ends may be lifted as far as required by one motion and in the same space of time, the surface speed of wind jug-shaft I should exceed that of shaft K when they are simultaneously turned by pinion L. This is effected in the example illustrated by the use of a winding-shaft I of greater diameter than winding-shaft K. Winding-shaft I is provided with a brake-wheel, I encircled by a brake-band, I, which is connected to brake-lever I. Winding-shaft K is provided with a similar brake-wheel, K encircled by a brake-band, Kiwhich is connected to brakelever K. Brake-lever I is a hand-lever, and brake-lever K is a foot-lever, and each is associated with a rack and latch for looking it. By means ofthese brakes the windingshafts may be looked, either one or both, as

may be required in the different operations of 5 raising and lowering the plows at either end, or at both ends simultaneously.

The counter-shaftLis provided with a winch for turning it, and below it a platform, N, is applied to the main frame, to serve as a stand for the plowman, from which he can watch the performance of the plows and make such adjustments as circumstances may call for from time to time. The platform N is preferably detachably connected.

Vhen the plows are at work, the hoistingropes shouldbe slackened sufliciently to permit the plows to follow and accommodate themselves to surface inequalities. T0 withdraw the plows from the ground whileplowing, lift their forward ends first to give the shares an upward pitch, so that they will naturally run up out of the soil as the plows are drawn along. It will be observed that while in operation the plows are mainly self-supported, and the main frame has to sustain but a small fraction of their weight and of the pulling-strain.

The clevis 0 may be provided with a suit able draw-bar for attachment to the traction-,

engine. The clevis-casting B is constructed with arms b b, in order that cross-chains B B may be run from said arms to the axle or frame of the traction-engine, for the purpose of preventing lateral sway of the gang-plow at this point.

The caster-wheels are associated with suitable means for their vertical adjustment. The stock of the rear caster-wheel, (J is provided with a hand-lever, 0 so that the plowman may operate said caster-wheel as a steeringwheel to guide the plow-frame whenever desirable, as in making sharp turns or in backing.

ICO

provided with a spur-wheel and connected by ropes or chains with the front ends of the plows, a second winding-shaft also provided with a spur-wheel and connected by ropes or. chains with the rear ends of the plows, and a single endwise movable pinion adapted to drive said winding-shafts either separately or conjointly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. EDGAR PENNEY. Witnesses:

S. M. STOLER, A. H. CAMPBELL. 

